Chris Tomasson of the Rocky Mountain News has the word on what Denver had in mind by trading Marcus Camby to the Clippers for potentially nothing in return. The deal gives the Nuggets the option of swapping second-round picks with the Clips ... but only if L.A.'s pick is better than Denver's.
Nuggets G.M. Mark Warkentien said the key to the deal was the $10 million trade exception that came with it. "The trade exception that we get provides us with greater flexibility and more options for potential deals," Warkentien said.
I'm wondering what precedent the Camby deal sets for the Knicks' efforts to trade Stephon Marbury. Camby has two years left at base salaries of $8 million and $7.65 million. Taking Camby's $2 million in performance bonuses that count on this year's cap, Denver saves $20 million with the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax kick. Does this mean the Knicks could get more than a potential second-round pick for Marbury, whose $21.9 million deal expires after next season? Or would a trade exception and $44 million in total savings (including luxury tax) that the Knicks would gain by trading Marbury mean that a potential trade partner would have to give up less for him?